SOMERSWORTH — Tuesday night's School Board meeting was highlighted by a lengthy discussion on the ongoing possibility Rollinsford students may leave SAU 56 for other area schools.

"It's an all-around bad situation," said board secretary Matthew Hanlon, who said the withdrawal of Rollinsford students could have a potentially worse impact on Somersworth students. "The budget will need an ax — not a scalpel — if these kids leave."

Board member Jerry Perkins mirrored Hanlon's sentiments.

"If they left today $1.5 million dollars leaves with them," he said. "We will have to find other students from other districts to fill those seats — it's a business decision if they decide to leave."

Dover, Marshwood and Noble are in talks with Rollinsford about the possibility of accepting students based on a transitional assignment plan — with families of children in certain grades retaining the option of keeping their child in SAU 56 as opposed to sending them to a new partner district.

On Tuesday, School Board members unanimously agreed keeping Rollinsford students in the district was the ideal end result.

"I'd much prefer the Rollinsford students to stay," said board member Stephanie Riotto.

"I do not want to see the Rollinsford students leave," Hanlon said. "Anything we can reasonably do to help them stay I'm in agreement with."

"My hope is you do your search and decide to stay," said Perkins. "It's always been our children, our students," he said in contrast to what some may perceive as a Rollinsford versus Somersworth student split.

Another issue discussed Tuesday was the uncertainty regarding the number of students who would remain in Somersworth during this transitional period, which would begin in September of 2015.

"You have to assume the worst when there's no guarantee of what's going to happen," board member Bob Gibson said. "With no definitive numbers we have to assume we have zero Rollinsford students left in a worst-case scenario."

"How do I go out and shop for replacements when I don't know who I'm replacing?" he asked.

Perkins said it's difficult to understand how Rollinsford officials can make the claim they want better educational opportunities for students while on the other hand allowing some students to stay in Somersworth.

"How do you make the case it's good enough to send your students to another school district yet it's good enough that a subset can stay here?" Perkins asked.

Talks will continue with a withdrawal meeting scheduled for tonight. "What it comes down to at this point is costs," SAU 56 Superintendent Jeni Mosca said. "We've had the conversations, people have asked their questions, and we've been as transparent as possible throughout the process."

And although board members agreed transferring schools is difficult for students in such fragile age groups, a future agreement may take some negotiating.

"I have a business problem and you have an emotional problem," Perkins stated. "I have to look at what's best for all the kids in the district."